CLINICAL EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF ANTIOBESITY AGENTS

Physicians are currently limited to very few options when considering antiobesity medication. The only drugs currently approved for use are anorexiants, and all of them are indicated for short-term use. However , a variety of research has shown that long-term use of medication com bined with comprehensive lifestyle change is required for most patient s to lose weight, and more important, to maintain that weight loss. Al though fenfluramine has been withdrawn from the market, we are fortuna te that researchers are looking toward classes of drugs with completel y different mechanisms of action and, hopefully, fewer side effects in order to accommodate long-term use. The antiobesity formulary is like ly to change during the next decade and will probably include peptide analogues such as leptin, new thermogenic agents like the beta 3-adren oceptor agonists, lipase inhibitors, and safer anorexiants that combin e serotonergic and adrenergic activity. Indeed, the lipase inhibitor t etrahydrolipstatin, or orlistat, is near FDA approval, and the anorexi ant sibutramine has been recently approved. New advances in weight man agement medications should bring obesity treatment into every physicia n's office. It is also hoped that managed care organizations will real ize the importance of these medications in reducing the significant co morbid conditions caused by obesity. Effective weight loss stands to c ontribute greatly to the long-term health outcomes of millions of Amer icans now dealing with weight-related conditions.